Links (most recent first) that caught my eye, but did not warrant full-blown blog entries ….
- Despite the Right’s Objections, Maryland May Recognize Same-Sex Marriages from Other States – The article makes a good case that opposition to recognition of extra-state gay marriages “has nothing to do with state sovereignty. It has everything to do with animus against gays and lesbians.”
- The Democrats’ Republican plan – Money graf: “For all the hysterical whining from today’s Republican Party and its right-wing allies, the Democratic plan couldn’t be any less radical. Not only is it practically identical to what moderate Republicans wanted nearly 20 years ago, but its basic structure is the same as the plan Howard Baker, Bob Dole, and Tom Daschle were touting last year.”
- Success on Zazi case leads to silence on the right – If they don’t have something not nice to say, they’ll just say nothing at all.
- Against it before they were for it – Here’s hoping that their opponents — both among the Dems and among their own party’s challengers — call them on this over the next year.
- Radicals, rifts, and the right – Money graf: “So, let me get this straight. Prominent conservative voices don’t mind Beck’s deranged conspiracy theories, his humiliating ignorance, and his hatred for those who don’t think as he does. But these conservative voices mind a great deal if Beck notes that Republicans have an embarrassing record when it comes to deficit reduction, the national debt, government spending, and increasing the size and scope of the federal government’s powers — an observation that happens to be true.” It sounds like Beck’s usefulness to the cause may be just about up if he doesn’t tone down his criticisms of the GOP.
- Ben Dimiero: “Nuclear Option” stupidity comes full circle – The despicably disingenuous relabeling of the “nuclear option” aside, I’m trying to figure out the headling “51 Vote ‘Nuclear Option’ Is ‘Arrogant’ Power Grab Against the Founder’s Intent” … because, y’know, looking at what the Founders ACTUALLY PUT IN THE CONSTITUTION it sure seems to me that 51 votes (or over half the chamber) is what they intended.
- Brooke Obie: Right-wing media link new agency logo to Obama’s, Pepsi’s, Iran’s, Islamic Crescent – Folks … SOMETIMES A CIGAR IS JUST A CIGAR. Claiming the MDA is imitating O)bama campaign logo AND the Iranian space agency and the Islamic crescent … is just nuts. (Indeed, the idea that this is somehow truckling to the Iranians, when I can just see hostile Muslim countries claiming this as a sign that the MDA is targeting Islam makes the nuttiness even nuttier.)
- NYT publishes the real exposé about NY governor Paterson. It ain’t pretty. – Looks like a pretty clear abuse of power to me.
- Teacher Calls Police On Student Who Refuses To Say Pledge Of Allegiance – The teacher should be fired. Also, sued. What he did was not only abusive toward a child, but illegal and unethical and harmful to every other kid in the class, by teaching that bullying and shaming and forced compliance to the standards of the powerful is acceptable. Rrrg.
- Almost All Legislative Advances In Health Care Passed Via Reconciliation – Aside from a nice take-down of the talking point, it’s fascinating to learn where “COBRA” (post-employment) coverage came from.
- Walmart Kills Vudu’s Porn Section Altogther [Vudu] – It is, of course, Walmart’s right to do that — and it’s something that most folks won’t worry about. But private censorship by monopoly is not that much better than public censorship by the government. And as Niemoeller might have said, “First they came for the porn, but I didn’t care because I didn’t watch porn. Then they came for the …”
- Ex-Officer Pleads Guilty In Katrina Bridge Shootings : NPR – I hope the cops involved in this are nailed to the frelling wall. No greater abuse of the public trust from peace officers can be imagined.
- Google facts and figures (massive infographic) – No history of the past decade (if not this one) will ever be complete without mentioning Google. It’s that influential and pervasive.
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